Box-magazine firearm



G. V N I N W O R B M. Tm

(No Moa'l.)

BOX MAGAZINE FRERM i Pa (No Model.) 6 Shems`$hoet 4 J. M. BROWNING.

BOX MAGAZINE AFIREARM. 910.599,595. m Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

p III il w' A 9 (No Model.) 6 s11eezs'-snee9 5.

J. M. BROWNING. BOX MAGAZINE FIREARM.

' Panam 'Peb- 22, 1898.

HIHHHUI V Ill (No Model.) H 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

' J. M. BROWNING.

BOX MAGAZINE FIBEARM.

f N0.`599,595; wanted. Feb. 22, 1898.

ihvirn *raras Farhnr Finca.

.TOll\T M. lROWNlN-G, OF OGDEN, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO THE lVINClIESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEXV l lAVEJ, CONNECTICUT.

BOX-MAGAZENE FEREARM.

- SPECIFICA'FION forming part of Letters ]?atent No. 599,595, dated February 22, 1898.

Application filed May 5, 1897. Serial No. 635,217. (No model.)

le it known that I, JOHN M. Bnownine, of Ogden, in the eounty of lVeber and State of Utah, have inventcd a new improvement in Fircarms; and I do hereby declare the follow-- ing, When taken in connection with the accoinpanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exaet description of the same, and Which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, iii- Figure 1, Sheet 1, a broken view, in side ele- 'ation, of one form which a gun censtrueted in aeeordance with myinvention may assume; Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a broken view of the gun, partly in central vertical longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, the parts of the action mechanism being shown in the positions due to them when. the gun is closed and locked. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, a similar view showing the gun closed, but unlocked; Fig. 4, Sheet al, a similar view showing the gun fully open; Fig. 5, Sheet 1., a broken plan view of the gun; Fig. (3, Sheet 5, a detached broken view of the gun-framein side elevation, showing also the breech end of the gun-barrel;

Fig. 7, a view of 'the same parts in vertical' longitudinal section; Fig. S, a reverse plan view of the same parts; Fig. 9, a view of the gun-frame in vertical section on the line a Z) of Fig. G; Fig. 10, Sheet (l, a detached view, in side elevation, of the operating or finger lover, the brcech-block, the link conneeting them, and the instrumentalities monnted in the said lever and block, this view showing the organization of the lever and block and their associated instrumentalities, so as to be removcdfrom and introduced into the gun virtuallyas one piece; Fig. 11 ,a detaehed view, in side elevation, of the box-magazine and sear; Fig. 12, a plan view thereof; Fig. 13, a detached reverse plan view of the breeehblock with the firing-pin removed; Fig. 14, Sheet -1, a detaehed perspective view of the assembling-pin and its finger-piece; Fig. 15, a Sectional view on a line e (Z of Fig. 1, showing the assembling-pin as looked into the boxniagazine; Fig. 16, a detail view, partlyin side elevation and partly in section, showing the assembling-pin in the position in which it is inserted into or removed from its pivot-hole,

the finger-piece being represented by broken lines; Fig. 17, a similar view showing the said assembling-pin and finger-piece in their looked positioi'is;4 Fig.. 18, a Sectional view showing the push-pin which eoacts with the finger-piece of the assembling-pin; Fig. 19, Sheet 3, a detaehed plan view of the breechblock, the forward end of the operating-lever, and the link by which they are connected together; Fig.20, a detaehed view, in rear elevation, of the breech-block with the firing-pin removed; Fig. 21, a detached broken view, in front elevation, of the forward end of the operating-levor; Fig. 22, Sheet 2, a. detached view,in side elevation, of the eonnecting-link;

Fim23 a nan viewthereof' Fifiz2fl a detaehed.

view, in side elevation, of the firing-pin; Fig. 25, a broken view showing the inside of the right-hand wall of the receiver and the horizontally-arranged rocking cartridge-guide; Fig. 26, a detached view of the said guide in inside elevation; Fig. 27, a detached perspective view of the said guide; Fig. 28, a sectional view through the receiver, showing the fixed and rocking cartridge-guides, the latter being shown in its downwardly and outwardly rocked position; Fig. 29, a corresponding view showing the rocking guide in the position in which it blocks the upward movement of the cartridges; Fig. 30, Sheet 4, a Sectional view of the forward end of the operating-lover,

Alooking at the forward end of the hammer;

Fig. Sl, a detached reverse plan view of the box-magazine, showing also the forward end of the operating-levem Fig. 32, a plan view of the box-magazine cover; Fig. 33, a detached plan view of the forward end of the Carrier-spring, showing its two locat'ing-lugs.

My inven tion relatos to an improvement in that 'class of firearins known as lever-guns, from the fact that their breech mechanisms are operated by means of an operating or finger lever, the object'of my invention being to produce a gun composed of coniparat'lvely few, simple, and strong parts, construeted and organized so as to be dismembered and reassembled with the minimum expenditure of time and labor and nilt with particular reference to withstand ng the explosivo force of action and safetyin use.

high-pressure powders and to reliability of' IOO With these ends in view my invention consists in a breech-block and operating-lever permanently united by/means of a link and adapted to be'introduced into and removed from the gun-frame as one piece; in an operating-lever adapted tohave the hammer, hammer-spring, and trigger carried by it; in an operating-lever adapted to be looked in its closed position by means of the hammerspring and a pin which acts as-a guide for the hammer; in a bufier constrncted and arranged to cushion the action of the operatinglever as it reaches its open position; in a gunframe having a chambered rearward extensioii or tang, into which the breeeh-block is retracted in a curved lpath by means of theA operating-lever, the inner portion'of which' swings back and forth in the chamber of the said extension or tang; in a sear extendingA rearward and adapted to directly coact with a hammer and a trigger, both of which are mounted in and swung with the operatinglever; in a breeeh-bloek having its lower face slotted for the reeeption of a suspended or pendulous firing-pin which is retracted by the action of a retraeting-pin mountedv in the' breeoh-bloek; in a horizontally-arranged vertical rocking cartridge-guide located in a reeess formed in one of the'side walls of the receiver of the gun-frame and adapted to retire to permit the eartridges to be forced down- Ward past it from above, but bloeking the upward movement of the eartridges from below; in a box-magazine having` a forwardlyinelined forward end wall and a virtuallyV straight rear end wall, in combination with a spring-aetuated earrier the ends of which eoaet with the said walls, whereby the Carrier assumes a position more and more nearly parallel with. the gun-barrel as it is lifted in the box-magazine; in a box-magazine cover having peculiar adaptation at its rear and forward ends for being seeured to the. open lowerl end of -the box-magazine; in an assemblingpin'provided with a finger-piece and adapted to be readily introduced into and removed Vfrom the gun and constituting the pivot on which the operating-lever swings, and in cervtain other details of construction which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in As herein shown, my invention has been embodied in a box-magazine gun, although it may also be embodied in tubiliar-magazine guns oreven in single-shot guns.

VIn carrying out my invention, as herein shown, I eniploy a eompound -movement ,T brcech-.bloek A, the rear end of-which is formed with a eentrally-arranged vertical slot A' for the reception and elearanee of a short operating-link ll, the forward end of which is connected with the rear upper corner of the breech-block by means of a horizontally-arranged pivot a., passing through the said corner'of the block. The rear end of .the said operating-link is inserted into a eentrally-arrangedvertical slot C, formed in the noseb Z), Which coact with two correspouding abutv ment-shoulders cl cf, formed at the nose-like extreme inner end of the operating-lever. The engagei'nent of the said almtment-lugs with the said abutment-shoulders prevents the link from dropping` down too far during the rearward movement of the breech-bhek, whereby the forward end thereof is steadied. The lower end of the slot A' in the rear end of the breech-bloek 'is laterally cut away at a' (IJ, Fig. 20, for the elearan ce of the said lugs when the block is being lifted into its looked position, in which it is shown in Fig. 3. The operating-lever C' is itself pivotally hung in the lower rear corner of the box-magazine D,which is rigidlysecured to and depends from the receiver E of the gun-frame by means of a removable pivot,whieh Ishall hereinaf ter designate as the 'assemlding-pin O, as that term well describes the function of the part referred to. llere I may remark that l' use the word receiver'7 to designate that portion of the gunframe which reeeives` the cartridges preparatory to their being pushed forward and inserted into the eartridge-ellamber li`,formed in the rear end of the gun-barrcl h. The inner portion of the said lever swings back and forth 'in a chambered tang` lil', forming, as it were,

a rearward extension of the receiver and constituting a portion of the gun-frame. Preferably the ehambered tang will be integral with the receiver, though lthat is not essen? tial. The gun-frame is seeured to the gunstock E2 by means of a long serew-bolt E, Which enters the rear end of the chambered tang, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The breeeh-block A is provided with a 'spring-actuated hook-extractor G, which may be of any approved construction. It is also provided with a firing-pin G', Fig. 24:,formed with a eonical nose g and with an abutmentshoulder located at the base of the said nose and limiting the forward movement of the pin and with an upwardly-extending lug gz, containing a slot g,- having its 'upper end longi- A p'ivot c, mounted in the said in-l tudinally enlarged, as at gt, and its lower end 4 bowed on a forward eurve. This slot receives a horizontalretracting-pin 95, mounted in the breech-bloek and serving to retract the firing-pin and to connect the firing-pin with the breech-bloek, of Which it has eonsidei able independent movement, as will be described later on.` The said 'liring-pin is located in a long deep slot A2,'formed in the lower face of the breeeh-block. This slot does not extend through the forward end` of the breech-block, which contains a conical passage A3 enough larger than the nose g of the firing-pin to permit the firing-pin to virtnally swing upon its nose asupon a center, the length and arra'ngement of the slot Vgil, formed in the firing-pin, allowin g the rear end of the pinto have a very marked vertical movement. When the gun is closed and looked, at which time the rear end of the breeeh-block rests upon the nose-like inner end of the lever, as shown in Fig. 2, the rear end g' of the firing-pin passes under the rounded lower end of the operating-link ll and enters the lower end of the vertical slot C, formed, as before mentioned, in the noselike inner end of the operating-lover C', the said end of the pin beingthen in'position to be strucka blow by the hammer II, which in Fig. 2 is shown in its fired position. Then the hammer Strikes the end of the firing-pin, the same leaps forward, as it is allowed to do by the horizontal elongaiion 94 of the upper end of itsbowed slot gg. The forward movement of the firing-pin is arrested by the engagement of its almtment-shoulder g' against the forward end wall of the long slot A2,

formed in the bottom of the breeeh-block,

whereby the retraeting-pin g5 is saved from possible harm. The retraction of the firingpin will be described at another time.

The inner portion of the operating-levei' C' v is chambcred, as at Cb, for the receptiou of the hammer ll,` the hammer-guide' pin 11', and the spiral hammer-spring U2. The liammer consists of a flat block slightly tapered at its rear end and guided at its forward end by means of a guide-block IP, located above' it, and by means of a guide-pin lif, mounted in its lower forward corner and riding upon two oppositely-located shoulders 71 71, formed in the Side walls of the Chamber Cb of the lever, as clearly'shown in Fig. 30. 'The said hammer is itself formed with a longitudinal cylindrieal bore II, extending throughout its length and receiving the hammer-guide pin l l' and also receiving the hammer-spring IF, the forward end of which abuts against a shoulder 11', formed near the forward end of the said bore ll m.

looking the operating-lover U' in its closed position. For that purpose the rear end of the said hai'nnier-guide pin ll' is furnished with a head ll, the upper face of which is formed to permit the longitudinal movement of the rl1t1ninei--ftiiicle pin required for pcrmitting the doubly-beveled nose h' of the head ll to s'pring over the locking-lug h'i, formed within the chambered tang E', at the rear lower corner th'creol', as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 1 .Just before the opei'.fttin {-lcveiI comes into its com pletely-closcd position the doubly-beveled nose lr' of the head llf' engages with the looking-log h, and the leverbeing under. rearward and upward draft at this time; the liam- The said spring ll2 also performs the function of a looking-spring for mer-spring'll2 is suffieiently compressed to allow the nose 71.4 to Snap over the lookinglug h, after which `the hammer-spring will assert itself to keep the nose h1 engaged with the upper face of the lug 'h, whereby the lcver is kept in its looked position. lnthis way the hammer-spring IF performs a looking function in addition to itsliammcr-actuating function.

The operating-levei` (l' also carries the trigger I, which is hung upon a pin yz' and provided with a safety-catch I', which when pushed forward engages with the forward end wall I2 of the slot I, formed in the finger-lever for the reccption of the trigger. When the catch engages with the said wall 12, the trigger is looked against swingi'ng movement downward, whereby the gun is prevented from being tired until the safety-catch is brought back so as to clear the said wall. I do not, however, claim this safety-catch, which is old. The said trigger is formed in its forward end. with a notch Il, receiving the fingerlike rear end of a sear J, which is suspended by a pivot J' from the rear face of the rear post Dl of the box-magazine. A spring'J2, interposcd between the base of the scar and the said post of the magazine, exerts a constant effort to vlift the scar, whereby the scar is maintained in a constant position of readiness to be cngaged by the cocking-noteh Jt, formed in the lower edge of the hammer ll, which in the closing of the gun moves in a curved path, (indicated by the arrow Ji) as seen in Fig. 4. It will now be seen that the breceh-bloek A, together with its hook-extractor G and, firing-pin G, the operatinglink l, and the levcr (3', together with the hammer ll, the hammer-guide pin If, the 'hammer-spring 112, and the trigger I, are all organized together and constitute one piece so far as their introduction into and removal from the gun-frame is concerncd. Myimproved gun, therefore, is on account of the construction just set forth-very simple to assenible and take apart and easy of attention and repair. lVhen the breech-block and levcr and their associated instrumcntalities are removed from the gun, the frame and chainbcrcd tang thercof are practically unoceupied, and therefore easily accessible for cleaning or for any other required attention.

To facilitate the introduction and removal of the connected brecch-bloek and levor, I prefcrably employ a removable asscmblingpin like that shown in perspective in Fig. 14. This is provided at its outer end with a finger-piece (fi, termi nating in a taperedorpunehl like end Cl, which will be found convenient in pushing the various pins and pivots out in taking the gun apart. In this view of it the iinger-piece Of* constitutes adismountingtool. The other end of the pin O2 is formed` with a fiat face 02 and a short transverse groove C3. The pin is introduced into a suitable hole D2 in the box-magazine D in the position lin which it is shown in Fig. 1G, its

IOO

IIO

flat face U2 being then in position to pass under a looking-pin ci, located near the inner end of the said hole and situated in the left-hand wall of the box-magazine. The finger-piece is then-liftcd in the direction of the arrow 05 into the position iu which it is shown by full lines in Fig. ll and by broken lines in Fig. 17, whereby the `ejroove c* of the pin is caused, so to speak, to take over the pinv cl, shown in Fig. 15, whoroby the :isscmblingpin is pre- Vented from being removed se long as it is kept in cngageinent with the ,said looking*- pin. That eugagement is preserved by the engagemont of the finger-piece by a pushpin l, lligs. l. and 18. The said push-pin K is mounicd in suitable position in the boxmagazine and is aotuated by a Spiral spring lx'i', Which is held in place by a scrcuT K2, the push-pin, spring, and screw being located in a transvcrse cylindrieal Chamber K, formed 'for their reception in the box-magazine. For its coaction With the said push-pin' the lingerpiece C is formed upon its inner face and near its outer end With a shailop' beveled notch O5, Fig. 14, adapting it to crowd the push-piu iuward, so as to permit the lingerpiece to ride over it in going to its looked position. lVhen, however, the finger-piece has gone into this position, the push-pin recovers itself and ong'ages With the edge of the lingerpiece at a point oppositc the said noich, as shown in lflg'. l, thus prcventing the lingerpiece from being accidentally swung` back, so to rotate the pin G2, and keep it from the looking-pin C4. Ou the otherhand, the lingerpiece is prevented from moving,` in the other direction by the groove in the pin Owhich extends only partially around the piu and prevents it from being` rotated in the wron` direction. To remove the breech-block and operating'-leveil and their associated parts from the gun, it is only necessary to press the push-pin iuward with the finger or any convenieutobj ect and then swing the finger-piece back to the position in Which it is shown by broken lines in Fig. 1G, whereby itis discounected from the looking-pin ci, so that it may be drawn directly outw'ard, after Which the lever and block maybe drawn away from the gun, as though in one piece.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the dravvings that the pivot c, Which connects the lower end of the operating-link with the .inner end of the operating-lover, stands a tritle forward of a straight line connectingI the center of the pivot a, which eonnects the upper end of the said link with the breechblock and the assembling-piu C, onvwhi 1 h the operating-leverl sxvings. On account of 'this relative arrangoment ofthe pivots a, c, and C2 the recoil following' the explosion of a cartridg': ends to throw the parts into their closed positions in case it be conceded that there is any lost motion to be taken up. ln other Words, the tendency of the recoil being 1 to push the breech-block back, the tendcncy of the backward movement of the brecchblock is to depress the inner end o'f the operating-levei' and lift its lower end. The upper wall E4 of the Chamber E3 of the chambered tan g is struck on a large circle, of Which the hole D2, rcceiving the assembling-pin C2, on Which the leverswings, is the center. The forward end of this Wall may be said to termiuate in a recoil-abutnient e, against Which the rear end of the breech-block is lifted for looking the breech-block in its closed. position. This recoil abutment has a central notch e' for the oiearance of the connectinglink l before mentioned.

lt Will readily be understood that my improved vgun is Well adapted to Withstand the expansi've force of high-pressure powders, inasmueh as the entire reeoil of the gun is taken by the. breech-block, Which When closed .and locked eonstitutes the only piece bctween the head of the eartridge and the frame of the gun against the recoil or abutment shoulder of which the rear end of the block impinges When liftcd into its looked position.

At a point just above the locking-lug 716, Which 1 have already referred to, I insert in to the chamhcred tang a U -shaped spring-buffer L, which is engaged by a shoulder L', formed at the base of the nose-like inner end of the lever (l'. Just as the iever reaches its full open position the shoulder L' comes into contact With the buffer L, which yields suiiiciently to cushiou the stopping` of the lover, Whereby the raekingv of the gun is avoided when it is being rapidly manipulated. Of course the spring-buffer may bereplaced by a yielding buffer of any other form or construction.

The gun hereiu shown is provided With a box-magazine D, although it Vmight be furnished with a tubular magazine, as has been already stated.` The said. box-magazine is provided With a rear upright or post D' and a forward. upright or post DW, the magazine being seeured in place by means of a pin d, passiug` through the receiver and through the forward upright DW, and by means of pins d/ d', passing' through the receiver and through the rear upright D'. lVithin the magazine l locate a cradle or car'rier M, consisting of a long` narrow plate having' its forward end turned very slightly upward and having its rear end turned downward to form a trailing guide-cam M'. The innerface of the forward npright D20 is formed with a deep Vertical slot or groove D3, which reeeives the ends of the buile'ts of the cartridges N. The forward end ,of the said cradle M engages With the inner face of the upright l)20 on opposite sides of the slot D, the said face being` forwardly IIO inclined, as clearly shown 'in Figs. 2 and Lt.

The inner face of the rear upright- Df is nearly lvertical and is engagjed'bythe trailing guide- 'cam ill', formed by turning"` down' therear of upon the inner face of a eover P, applied to the bottom of the box-magazine. The said spring` as th us oonstructed and applied exerts a constant eit'ort to lift the rea-r end of the Carrier, the spring operating thereupon, so that as the same moves upward it will come nearer and nearer to assuming a position parallel with the gun-barrel, for the reason that as the inner face of the forward npright Dio of the box-magazine is forwardly inelined the spring' is given more and more opportunity of lifting` the rear end of the earrier to the level of the forward end thereof. Under this `construction if downward pressure is applied to the upper face of the forward end of the carrier it will he immediately ehoeked against downward movement by the engagement of itsextreme forward end with the inelined inlnei` face D4 of the forward upright, the trailinsc'` guide-cam M" at the rear end of the earrier rocliing or eamming' on the straight inner aco D of the rear upright D' to look the carrier against downward movement. On the other hand, if pressure is applied to the upper face oi' the rear end of the earrier the Carrier- .spring` vields and the carrieris readily pushed down, the terdency being then to clear the cam guide end M' of the lcarrier from the straight inner face D5 of the 'upright l)'.

To insure the right location of the carrierspring, its looped forward end is provided with two corresponding oppositely-located lugsp `2;, Fig. 323, designed to be received by two short vertically-arrauged grooves 12/ 21', Fi". Til, fn'mod in the side walls of the box- Lzine,ai the forward-end thereof` as shown in Fig. 31. These lug's and grooves aro not necessary, but they insure the correct location of the Carrier-spring. The z. ar end of the cover 1), l`i.;. S2, is formed with a D-shaped undereut looking-sunt P', adapted to bo insorted inio a suitable undercut loehing-rocess i, i*`ifs. 2, zl, and Ill, formed at the lowerend ol' the rear upright D' of the box-magazine. The rear end of the arm O, of the Carriersprinsr'I is formed with a semieircular noteh (o): ioiidapt it to straddle the looking-sind 1, wherohvv the said end of the spring is held in place when the gun is being:r assembled. The forward end of the cover is. formed with a perforated reiaining-lug P5, lf`igs. 2, i, and 32, which is received by a suitable slot P3, Fig. SJ, formed in the lower end of the forward upright IV of the box-magazine.

To secure the cover in place, it is applied to the bottom of the hot-magazine and slid renrwzn'd ihoreopon until its undereutlockiuz .Lud l has been fully entered into the 'under-cut ioeking-reeess i. A pin l is then passed through the lower forward corner of the box-magazine and through the lug P5, against which Lhe looped forward end of the rarrier-spring ahnls, whoreby the spring,` is

'hold against longitudinal movement in either direction. The said cover is therefore easily removed and replaccd.

a horizontal reeess R', formed in the righthand wali of the receiver, and is furnished upon its inner face with a fiat spring R9, which exerts a constant effort to move the rear end of the guide outward into the a'eceiver, as shown in Fig. 28. This guide is loosely held in place by means of a serew R3, Fig. 8, Which is mounted in the receiver in a transverse hole R4, formed in the right hand thereof and so much larger in diameter than the serew that the same is free to have a rooling or walobling movement therein. Then a eartridge is introduI Ied into the box-magazine through the open top thereof and pressed downward upon the two eartridge-gnides Q, and R, the rear end of the movable guide R swinflfs downward suffioientiy to clear the upper edge of the guide from a horizontal shoulder r, formed in the upper portion of the reeess R'. The guide R, having thus been cleared afrom the said shoulder r, is'then free to move laterally outward into the reoess R', whereby an ample passage-Way is formed for the eartridge,which passes thence below the two guides into the body of the box-magazine. The eartridge is thus prevented from escaping upward between the `duides, although it passed downward between them, for the reason that when the cartridge is pressed upward by the carrior-spring it is lifted against .the said movable `:'uide R, which it then iu turn lifts, so as to bring` its upperedge into position to coliide with the shoulder lr, which provents it from moving laterally outward into the reeess, as shown in Fig. 29.

The use of the movahle eartridge-guido R above described adapts the box-magazine to be very oonveniently loaded. I may here say that while one movablo cartridge-guide has been found sul'iicient both gnides may be made movable, 'if desired. lt will be understood, of course, that the'two eartridge-guides above described hold the rear ends of the artridg'es down while they are being pushed forward by the breech-bloek into the eartridge-chamber F of the gun-barrel.

'it' will be observed by reference to the. drawings that the path in which the hammer reoiprocates is not in line with the ring-pin, and, further-more, that the front or striking face of the hammer is not at a right anglo to the path of itsl reeiprooation. For these two reasons when the hammer strikes the liringpin orthe rear face of the rear upright l of the box-magazine it tonds to glanee ol'f and upward. This thrust is eommunieated by the hammer to the oporatiiri,r or finger lover C', and as it is oxerted at a point in front of a plano intersoet-inz.,` the path of the hammer and the assombling-pin Di, on whioh the said lover is hung ata right angle, the result will be that the said lover may he started from IOO its closed position or jarred open, as the saying is, in case the. trigger is pulled when the fingers of the user are not passed through the bow of the lever for holding the same in its closed position.

To prevent the hammer from glaneing off, as described, and also to provide additional security 'for preventing the lover from being jarred open, I ,may employ, as herein shown, a fixed pin Z, loeated'in a horizontal plane in the upper end of the rear upright D' and projeeting rearwardly thorefrom in position to be engaged by the forward end of the hammer just before the same reaches the limit of its forward exeursion7 at which time the projeeting rear end of the pin enters the forwardend of the longI bore II, formed in the hammer for the 'reception of the guide-pin II' thereof.

llaving now described my improved gun, I Will briefly set forth the mode of its operation. Supposing the gun to be closed and looked, as shown in Fig. 2, and that it is de,-

s'ired to open it, `.the user grasps the inger or operatingl` lover by the bow O at its lower end and by a quick downwa-rd impulse overcomes the teusion of the hammer-spring, whereby the doubly-beveled nose h4 of the looking-head If' of the hammer-guide pin Il' is eleared from the looking-111g 71.". During the first movement of the lever its nose-like inner end moves from under the rear end of the breeeh-block A, which is then pulled down by the operating-link ll, se that it is eutirely eleared from the recoil-abutment e of the gun-frame. The abntment-lugs b l) of the operating link 'll are now engaged with the y abutment-shoulders c' e' of the said lover,

the nose-like inner end of which is at this time about in line with the breeeh-block, which is then drawn rearward' in a curved path until it is retracted entirely into the chamber E* of the eliambered tang E', as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which shows a cartridge N just emerging frolm the box-magazine l) into a position in front of the forward end of the brecch-bloek, which when it moves forward will push the cartridgo forward under the control of the eartridge-guides Q and It until its head passes`l the forward ends thereof, after which it will rise into line with the cartridge-chamber F of the gun-barrel l", into' which it will be completely inscrted by the completion ,of the forward movement of the breech-blork. Then the lover is drawn rearward from the position in which it is' shown in Fig. 4, the breech-bloek is moved` through a substantially segmental path out of the ehamber of the chambered tang of the gun-frameand into the receiver. During the closing movement of -thc lover the cookingnotch J'l of the hammer engages with the extreme rear end of the soar .1,,whieh steps the further forward movement of the hammer, after which the eomprossion of the hammer-- sin'in'fz U1* iii-eins, 'l'hn forward oxeursion of the breech-block havingbeenwomlilh'tid, the further 'rearward movement of the level' causes the rear end of the breech-block to be lifted by the operating-link B up in front of 7,0 the recoil-abutment e, the breeeh-bloek swinging vertieally at this time upon the fulcrum 'formed by the engagement of its forward end with the forward end wall of the reeeiver. As the rear end of the breeeh-block lifts upward in front of the recoil-abutme'nt e the nose-like inner end of the lever passes under the rear' i end of the breech-bloek', for which it then forms a support, as shown in Fig. 2. As the nose-like inner end of the lever passes under 8o the rear end of the breceh-bloek, as just described, its lower face engages .with and has a cam-like action u-pon the upper end of the rear post or upright D' of the box-magazine, upon which the nose-like inner end of the leyer is/ then supported, the rea-r end of the breeeheI block being supported, as stated, upon the upper face of the nose-like inner end of the lever, and the nose-like inner end of the lever having` its lower face supported upon the box- 9o magazine, which in turnis rigidly secured to the frame of the gun. A remarka-bly-solid support is thus provided for holding the breeeh-block in its closed position. I'may remark in this connection that in case features of my invention should be embodied in a tubular-magazine gun some other'provision would be made for supporting the inner end of the operating-leveil at the time the same supports the rear end of` the breeeh-block.V :oo .Inst as the lever goes into its fully-closed po-' sition the doubly-beveled nose 71.L of the locking-head Il?` snaps over the looking-lug 71,6, whereby the levei` is looked in its closed position by the hammer-spring IP. I should here remark that when the breech-block begins to enter the receiver on its forward excursion the pendnlous firing-pin G' engages with the upper end of the rear upright D' of the box-magazine I), whereby the liring-pin no is forced upward into the slot A9, formed to receive it in the bottom of the breech-block A A. At the same time that the firing-pin is being lit'ted into the breeeh-block, as described, it is retracted by the engagement of U5 the forwardly-eurved rear wallof its slot g* with' the retaining-pin 1/5, which might with proprioty be called a retracting-pin..` The liring-pin is thus retraeted before the gun is closed without the employment of any extra 12o pieces `for the purpose. I particularly wish to call attention to the faetthat the retraetion of the liring-pin takes place at the last moment and just before the gun is closed and looked, making the gun very safe. Just as the breech-block is being lifted into its loeked position the trigger I, carried by the operating-lever, comes into eng-agement with the soar; but this engagement is not complete until after the breeeh-bloek .has been closed 13o and looked. i may mentioii that the ope 'ttive cngagement of the trigger with the soar 599,595 v fa' comes so close to the closing movement of the lever that the trigger cannot be pulled to operate the sear to release the hammer until after the lever has been fully locked in its closed position.

It is apparent that in earrying 'out my invention some changes from the construction herein Shown may be made. I would thercfore .have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly` fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a firearm, the combination with a breceh-block, of an operating-lever, and an operating-link uniting the said block and lever, and formed with two abutment lugs which coaet with the inner end of the said lever.

2. In a magaZine-firearm, the combination with a breech-block having a vertical slot formed in its rear end, of an operating-lever having a vertical slot formed in its extreme forward end, and an operating-link having its ends entered into the said slots and connected at one end with the rear upper corner of the breech-block, and at its opposite end with the extreme forward end of the lever which is shapcd to pass under the rear end of the breech-block for holding the same in its looked position.

3. In a irearm, the combination with the frame thercof, of an operating or finger lever, one of the said parts being provided with a buffer-shoulder and the other with a buffer Which coaet to eushion the lever as it renehes the limit of its open position.

4. In a firearm, the. combination with an operating or finger lever, ot' a buffer consisting of a U-shaped spring mounted in the gun-frame in position to be engaged with the lever when the same rcaehes its open position.

5. In a firearm, the combination with a gunframe comprisinga receiver and a ehambcrcd rearward extension or tang, of an operating or finger lever, the inner end of which swings back into the said chambered tang when the lever is thrown open, and a yiclding bull'er located in the rear wall of the chamber of the said tang and engagcd by the lever for oushioning the same when it reaches ils open position.

(i. In a lirenrm, the combination with an operating or finger lever formed 'with a hammer-chamber, of a hammer located in the said ehamler so as to be reoiproeated therein, a rearwardly-projeeting hammer-guide pin entoring the rear end ot' the said hammer and having bearing in the forward end thercof, a hammer-spring entering the rear end of the hammer and encircling the said pin, a trigger also mounted in the said lever, and asear which coacts with lthe said trigger and 4also with the under face of the said hammer'l i 7. In a magazine-firearm, the combination' witha breech-bloek, of an operating or finger lever, an operating-link connecting the upper portion of the rear end of the breechblock with the extreme forward end of the lever, a spring-controlled hammer mounted in and carried by the lever, and means combined with and carried by the lever for locking the same in its closed position.

8. In a firearm, the combination with an operating or finger lever, of a reciprocating hammer mounted thcrein, a hammer-(ruido pin located in the hammer, having hearing in the forward end thercof, projecting rearwardly therefrom, and adapted at its rear end to form a lock for holding the lever in' its closed position, and a hammer-spring eneircling the said Apin the rear end of which engag'es with the lower portion of the rear wall of the chamber in which the lever swings.

9. In a lirearm, the combination with an operating or finger lever, of a reciprocating hammer mounted thcrein, a hammer-guide vpin located in the hammer, having hearing in the forward end thercof and projecting rearward therefrom, a hammer-spring encircling` the said pin, and a looking-head located at the rear end of the said pin and having a bev-' eled nose which coacts with the lower portion of the. rear wall of the chamber in which the lcverswingsffor looking the lever in its closed position.

10. Ina lircarm, the combination with a breech-bloek,0f a iiring-pin mounted therein, an operating or finger lever formed with a ham mer-chamber, an operating-link connecting the upper portion of the rear end of the brecch-block with the extreme forward end of the lever which extends under the rear end of the block when the same is in its looked position, and a spring-controlled .tiring-hammcr located in the hammer-chamber of the levei' in which it is free to reciprocate, and adapted at its forward end to engagc with the rear end of the tiring -pin which depends from the breech-block.

11. In a iirearm, the combination with a gun-frame having a receiverand a ehambcred tang, of a sear arranged to extend rearward into the. chambered tang, an operating or finger lever, and a hammer and a trigger mounted in the said lever, the cocking-notch of the hammer engaging with the rear'end of the sear to cock the hammer as the lever is swnng inio its closed position.

12. ln a lirearm, the combination with the box-imiga/.ine thercof, of a scar connected with the rear portion of the magazine and cx- -tending rearwardly thcrefrom, of anloperating or finger lever, and a hammer and a trigger mounted .tirei-ein, the hammer being ar- IOO IIO

ear for being swung`v into its closed.

Vbv its forward end andi'rextending rearwardly into the chamber oftlle tang, and a hammer anda trigger mounted in the said lever, and both coacting directly With the rear end of the sear Whenthelever is sWnn g into its'closed position.

l-l. In a" firearm, the combination With agun-frame eomprisin g a receiver and achambered tang, `of a box-magazine having an npright Which forms its rear end, a sear pivoted to the rear face of the said upright so as to extend reaiavardly into the Chamber of the said tang, a -,seai' -spring located below the pivot of the s'iear' for lifting the same into its operating position, and an operating or linger lover carryingiY a hammer and a trigger, both of Which engage dir'eetl,T With the rear end of the sear Which drawn down against the tension of the seat-spring by the trigger for releasing the hanimer.

l. In a flicai'm, the combination With an operating-lover, of an assembling-pin by vWhich the said lever is pivotally suspended in the gun, the said pin being furnished with a rigidly-attaehed finger-piece by means of which it is turned into its looked and unlocked positions, and having its other end formed with a flat face and a short transverse notch, both of which coact With a lmckinr` instr' mentalityY interseeting the hole formed in the gun forLthe `reception of the pin.

l). ln a fircarm, the combination with the operating or finger lever thereof, of an assembling-pin by .means of which the said lever is suspended. in the arm, the said pin being formed at one end to be engaged With a looking instrumentality interseeting the hole formed in the gun to receive the pin the other end of Which isfurnishcd with a rigidly-attacled finger-piece by means ol' which the pin`rs rotated into its looked and unloekcd,

positions; and a push-pin mounted in the gun, exposed upon theouter face thereof and engaging With one edge of the said lingerpiece for holding the same and hence the assembling-pin in its loeked mlmstment.

17. ln a lirearm, the combination With a gun-frame crmprising a receiver and a chambered real-Ward extension or tang, ol' a brocoliblock, an operating or finger lover, a short connccti link cxt'onding forward from theI extreme Arward end of the lover and connected with the rear end of the breeeh-block, a 'reeiprocating hammer mounted in the lever, a tr g'ger also mounted in the lover, a soar cxtonding rcarwardly into the chamhcrcd Lang i'or coaction With the hammer and tri;e fer, and a `vielding buil'or located in the wall of the ehambered tang for engagementby the leverJust before the same reaehes the limit of its extreme open position after the breeeh-bloek has been drawn rearwardly in a eurved pathinto the chambered tan.

18. A breeeh-blockfor firearms, having an open slot formed in its lower face7 a swinging or pendulous firing-pin adapted to enter the said slot, and formed With a slot, a retractin gpin passing through the said block and the slot in the firing-pin and eoaetino' With the 'liring-pin slot to cause the iiring-'pin to'be retraeted when the same is moved upward into the breech-block slot.

19. The combination with a breeeh-bloek having an open slot formed in its under face, of a swinging or pendulous firing-pin entered into the said slot, and formed .with a vertially-arranged slot the upper end of Which is longitndinally enlarged and the lower end of Which is curved forwardly, and a transversely-arranged retraeting-pin mounted in the breeeh-block and extending through the said. slot in the liring-pin.

20. The combination of a breech-block for lirearms having a longitudinal slot formed in its lower face, of a Viring-pin loosely suspended in the said slot and swinging from its forward end as upon a. fulcrum, its rear end being free, and a retracting-pin monnted in the said block, and passing through a slot in the firin g-pin.

The combination With a breeeh-block for firearms having a longitudinal slot formed in its lower face and extending nearly to its forv'ard ond, a s Yinging 'or pendnlous firing-pin having its extreme forward end insorted into a passage formed. in the extreme forward end of the block and swinging upon its said forward end as upon a fulerum, and a retracting-pin Which passes through the liring-pin slot.

22. 'llhe combination With a breech-block having a longitudinal slot formed in its lower face, of a firing-pin adapted to enter the said slot and formed With a vertieally-arranged slot having itsV upper end longitudinally clongated and its lower portion forwardly cu rved, and a retracting-pin passing through the block and engaging With the rear Wall of the eurved portion of the slot for retracting the i ring-pin as the same is lifted into the breechblock slot.

253. lnV a lirearm, the combination with a lnfeech-block, of a swinging or pendulous vertically-movable iiring-pin located in the lower face thcreol", and a box-magazine with Which the liring-pin enga-ges and by which it is lifted from its pendulous position into the said breech-block.

2+. lu a iircarm, the combination with the receiver thereof, of a horizontalIy-arranged, vertically-rocking cartrhlge-guide adapted to swing downward and outward under pressure i'rom above, and formed to prevent its outward movement When it is lil'tcd under pres- IIO sure from below, whereby it permits cartridges to be forced downward past it,but prevents them from being forced upward past it. -25. In a firearm, the combination with a receiver, having a longitudinal recess formed in one of its side walls, of cartridge-guide located in the said recess, and having a rocking movement therein so as to rock downward and outward under downward pressure, and to be blocked against ou tward movement under upward pressure. 26. In a firearm, the combination With a receiver having a horizontally-arranged recess formed in one of its side walls, of a cartridge-guide located in the said recess,a spring exerting a constant effort to push the said guide inward, and a rocking pin mounted in the side wall of the receiver and entering the guide which it supports, the opening receiving the pin being larger in diameter than the pin,'wher'eby the pin and guide are free to rock within the limit set by the size of the opening through which the pin passes.

27. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver thereof, of a horizontally-arranged fixed cartridge-guide located therein, a horizontally-arranged rockin g cartridge-guide located opposite the said ixed guide and retirin'g to perinit cartridges to be forced downward below it, but blocking to prevent them from being lifted upward by it.

28. The combination with a box-magazine, of a carrier located therein and coacting at its rear and forward ends with the rear and forward ends thereof, a twoarined sheetmetal carrier-spring, the loop between the armsfithereof extending forward and being connected withthe-box-magazine at the lower corner of the forward end thereof, and the rear end of the upper arm of the spring being engaged with the said carrior, and the rear end ofthe lower arm of the spring` being engaged with a portion of the box-magazine.

29. In a firearm, the, combination with a box-magazine having its bottom open, of a cover adapted at its forward end to be connected with the forward lower corner of the said box-magazine, and provided at its rear end with an undercut' coupling-stud entering an under-cut conpling-recess formed' in` the rear end of the lower portion of the said box-magazinaa carrier located within the said box-magazine and coacting with the rear and forward end walls thereof, and sheet-` metal carrier-spring coinprising a forwardlyextendingloop and rearwardly-extending uplper and lower arms, the extreme forward end -of the loop being connected with the boxmagazine at vthe lower corner of the. forward end thereof, and the rear end of the upper arm of the `'spring being engaged with the carrier, and the rear end of the lower arm of the spring being notched and engaged with the said undercut coupling-stud. y z

30. In a box-magazine, the combination with a frame4 comprising a receiver and a chama spring-actuated face at an angle with its said :from glancing iupward when it strikesthe lever, a' sear extending rearwardly into the ehambered tang in position to be engaged by the hammer when. the lever is being swung into its closed position, whereby the hammer is cocked and the trigger engaged With the. sear; and a box-magazine containing aspringactuated, vertically-movable cradle or carrier, and a removable cover for the box-magazine.

31. vIn a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of an operating-lover, a link connecting the rear end of the breechblock with the inner end of the lever, a hammer, a hammer-spring, a hammer-guide pin entering the hammer and havingthe springl niounted upon it, and. a trigger, the said hammer, spring, pin and trigger being carried 9o by the lever, and all of the said parts being organized together fer insertion into and removal from the gun as one piece.

32. In a firearin, the combination with a breech-block, of an operating-levei", the inner end Whereof passes under the rear end of the breech-block for supporting the same in its closed and looked position, an operatinglink uniting the upper portion of the rear end of the said block and extreme forward end of the lover, and acting as thoniedium for lifting the block into its looked position and drawing it down into its uul-ocked position; and means for supporting the inner end of the lover a't the same time that the same is supporting the rear end of the breeeh-block in its closed and looked position.

ln a l'irearm, the combination with a breech-biook, of an operating-lover, the inner end whereof passes under the rear end of the block for supportingr the same in its closed and lool-:ed position, and a box-magazine supporting the inner end of the lever when the same is supportingthe rear end of the breechblock; 4

3/12. a firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of firing-pin :monnted therein, an operating-levei` by means of which the breech block is operated, a reciprocating hammer mounted in the said lover, having its path of reciprooation out of line with the firing-pin and having its front or striking path of reciprocation, and'means' for preventing the hammer EGO , said pin or other objectdocated at the limit of its forward excursion.

35. ln a lirearm7 the combination with a br'eech-block,4 of a firing-pin mounted therein, an operating-lever'by means of which the breech-bloclc is operated, a reciprocating hammer mounted in the said lover, having its path of reciproea'ion out of line with the In testimony whereof I have signed this firing-pin, and .having its front or strikng specifioation in the presence of two subserib- 10 face ab an anglewith its said path of reciprod: ing witnesses. cation, and a. fixed pin projecting rearwar and arranged to be engaged by the ham- JOHN 'M' bROxVNING' mer just before the same reaohes the limit of VVitnessesf its forward exeursion for preventing it from f FRED O. EARLE,

` glaneing upward and jarring the levei-open. GEO. D. SEYMOUR. 

